Cement-block machine.



G. wrCASTEfi.

CEMENT BLOCK MACHINE.

APPLICATION F|LED 00117. mi.

1,25%,659. Patented Jams, 1918.

92 venzori fieorge Wags/ten fiiiorney.

:sraans PATENT estates 1 ornoaen'w. CASHIER, or orrUMwA, IOWA.

v qoEMEnr-rriooK MACHINE.

T0 all/whom it mayconcern:

Be it knownthat I, GEORGE W. CASTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ottumiva, in the county of lVapello and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements :in Cement-Block Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to a cement block machine of the manually operable type, and it has for its primary aim toprovide a machine of exceedingly sim'- ple design embodying few parts and capable of forming blocksof varying sizesandthiclc nesses. 1

Broadly, my invention consists in a inold having fixed sides, an adjustable bottom and end walls, the end walls carrying top sections formed with upstanding and'opposing walls for forming'upwardly projecting extensions, and detachable and quickly operable pressure means for maintaining the top sections closed.

The invention further resides in the salient features of construction, and the arrangements and combinations of parts'described in detail in the following specification, defined in a succinct manner in the appended claims, and illustrated in their preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved cement block machine in its operative position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof partly in section and the machine inoperative;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the machine; and

Fig. 1 is a detailed perspective of the molded block.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 1 designates the sides of the mold, being preferably constructed from channel iron sections with the flat side faces opposing each other and the upper and lower edge flanges forming broad supporting bases for the machine. The side members 1 are provided with spaced series of registering bearings 2, horizontally disposed, and a vertical series of apertures-located adjacent the inner end of each series of bearings, and a third series of vertically arranged apertures interposed between the first Vertical series, said apertures being designated by the numeral 3, and being de Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

Application-filed October 17, 1917. Serial No. 197,164.

signed for selective engagement by a plurality of bolts 4 for adjustably supporting the removable bottom 5 whereby the thickness of the molded block may be varied.

The pressers 6 comprise the end walls 7 and the top walls or sections'S which carry at their inner ends the upstanding walls 9 for forming the upward extension 10 on the block 11. The end walls have depending legs 12 bearing trunnions 13 which are journaled in the bearings '2 and secured against dislodgment therefrom by nuts 1%. By selective mounting of the trunnions the end walls may be spaced accordingly to increase or decrease the length ofthe block, a correspondingly sized bottom 5 being inserted within the machine, said bottom being ongaged by the bottom edges of the end walls 7- to securely hold the same in its lowermost position while the bottom member may be of such length, when a shallower block is desired to fit in abutting relation between the end walls.

Centrally located on the upper base flanges of the side channel members are a pair'of opposing walls 15 fixedly mounted by bolts so as to be readily dismantled when desired. the walls 9 of the top sections being movable between the fixed walls 15 to constitute a molding chamber for the block extension. The top sections are reinforced by corrugations or enlargements 16, carried on their under sides and which provide correspond ing indentures 17 in the finished block.

In practice, a pair of boards 18 are disposed in the opened machine to direct the cement or concrete filling onto the bottom 5 until the desired quantity has been placed therein after which the boards are removed and the pressers are swung inwardly toward one another with the upstanding walls 9 between the fixed walls 15. Should there not be sufiicient material to fill out the extension, such deficiency may now be supplied. Pressure is now applied to the pressers and the walls 9 are clamped together by the following means.

Secured at one end, as by eye 19, carried by one presser adjacent its upstanding wall 9, is a chain or flexible connection 20 which has its opposite end terminating in a hook 21 for detachable engagement with the fixed bail 22 of lever 23, the latter being pivoted at its lower end to the other presser adjacent its upstanding wall 9. The chain is passed i over the upper edges of the. upstanding walls 9 so that when the lever is swung out- Wardly and pressed downwardly the walls will be drawn closer together and by press-' ing down on the lever such pressure will,

be transmitted to the pressers for compressing the block material. After molding, the bottom is lifted out with the block thereon and a new bottom substituted. V

Of course, should it not be desired to form the extension on the block, that" portion of the mold need not be filled.

In building a wall structure from my blocks, alternate layers are inverted so that the extensions of adjacent layers interlock, or all layers may be laid upright so that in either formation the wall is provided with air spaces without sacrificing the bracing and reinforcing qualities vof the block.

The block may easily be constructed and its size varied both as to thickness and length. The machine comprises but few parts all of which are of simple design possessing great durability.

What is claimed is.:

1. In a cement block-machine, a pair of side members, and a pair of cooperating.

pressers pivoted therebetween and constituting end and top walls for the block mold.

'2. In a cement block machine, a pair of side members having spaced series of registering bearings, pressers forming end'and top walls for the block mold and provided Copies of this patent may ,be obtained for with trunnions selectively engaged in the bearings of the side members.

3. In a cement block machine, a pair of side members having spaced series of registering bearings, pressers having trunnions selectively engaged in the bearings and constituting end and top Walls, the inner ends ofthe top walls being upturned to provide opposing upstanding walls, fixed Walls on the side members cooperating with the upstanding walls for forming an upward extension on the molded block, a chain. secured to the top wall of one presser member and'passing over the upstanding walls, and a lever pivoted to the'top wall of the other presserand detachably engaged with the opposite end of the chain.

4L. In a cement block machine, a pair of side members, a. bottom wall adjustably interposed therebetween, and pressers adjustably mounted to vary the length of the block, each presser consisting of an end wall and a top wall section.

5. In a cement block machine, a pair of side members, an adjustably mounted bottom'therebetween, pressers pivoted between the side members and comprising end and top walls, and means for exerting pressure on the pressers.

ture.

GEORGE w. CASTER. 7

five cents each, by, addressing the Commissioner of Patents,v .Washington, D. 0. p

In testimony whereof I affix my'signa- 

